Pathways of suffering: the temporal effects of domestic violence on women's mental health

Pathways of suffering: the temporal effects of domestic violence on women's mental health (di G. Anne Bogat, Alytia A. Levendosky, Erika DeJonghe, William S. Davidson, Alexander Von Eye) - ABSTRACT: This study of 163 women, examined the relationship between mental health and experiences of domestic violence (DV: male violence toward their female partners) during a three year period. The major findings indicated that it is inappropriate to view all female victims of male violence as a single group with common treatment needs. Rather, there are important subgroups of women, based on the chronicity and recency of the abuse they have experienced, who have different constellations of mental health symptoms. In general, the data support other literature which indicates that once violence ends, women’s mental well-being can improve. In other words, the acute effects of abuse appear to abate once a safe situation occurs. On the other hand, women suffering chronic abuse are in the most danger of negative mental health symptoms. Women with histories of abuse may continue to need support and mental health intervention to deal with the longer term effects of the trauma.

Alexander Von Eye, William S. Davidson, G. Anne Bogat, Alytia A. Levendosky, Erika DeJonghe, Pathways of suffering: the temporal effects of domestic violence on women's mental health in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 2/2004, pp , DOI: